Berberis plant named &#39;NCBX1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Berberis  cultivar named ‘NCBX1’ is disclosed, characterized by glossy purple foliage and a very compact plant habit. Plants have no observed female fertility. The new variety is a  Berberis , normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Berberis thunbergii×Berberis media.

Variety denomination: ‘NCBX1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Berberis cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Mills River, N.C. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Berberis varieties with purple foliage, compact plant forms and low fertility. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during Spring of 2004.

The seed parent is the unpatented, Berberis×media ‘Red Jewel’. The pollen parent is the unpatented Berberis thunbergii ‘Condorde’. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in Summer of 2005, at a research nursery in Mills River, N.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ by stem cuttings was first performed during the Summer of 2006, at a research nursery in Mills River, N.C. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in three successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NCBX1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘NCBX1’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘NCBX1’ as a new and distinct Berberis cultivar:

1. Glossy purple foliage. 2. Very compact habit. 3. No observed female fertility.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has not exhibited any female fertility, whereas the seed parent has a low female fertility rate. 2. While the seed parent has a compact plant form, plants of the new variety are even more compact.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has not exhibited any female fertility, whereas the pollen parent has a moderate female fertility rate. 2. The new variety has a more compact habit than the pollen parent. 3. The new variety has glossier foliage than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBX1’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Berberis ‘Emerald Carousel’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘NCBX1’ differs in the following:

1. Very compact plant habit, this comparator is a large plant with a spreading habit. 2. Purple leaf color, whereas the comparator has a green leaf color. 3. Very low or no female fertility, whereas this comparator is highly fruitful. 4. Foliage of the new variety is glossy, foliage of ‘Emerald Carousel’ is matte.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘NCBX1’ grown in a 1 gallon container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowering branch of ‘NCBX1 in a three gallon nursery container’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘NCBX1’ plants grown outdoors in a research nursery in Mills River, N.C. Measurements were taken during the Spring and Summer of 2015. The plants were 2-3 years old, field grown. The growing temperature ranged from approximately −10° C. to 35° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea     ‘NCBX1’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at approximately 27°             C.         -   Root description.—Density is moderate to dense, fibrous,             freely branching. Medium root thickness. White to brown in             color, not effectively measured with a color chart.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 90 days at 27°             C. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2-3 years old.         -   Growth habit.—Compact.         -   Pot size of plant described.—Field grown plants.         -   Overall plant shape.—Upright and rounded.         -   Height.—30 cm.         -   Plant spread.—30 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Branching characteristics.—Alternate whorled.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Average 14 cm, typical             range 9 to 20 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—1 to 2 mm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Average 30.         -   Stem.—Stem Appearance: Matte Stem Strength: Strong Color:             Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187B Pubescence: None.         -   Internode length.—Average 10 mm, typical range 8 to 12. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate whorled, single Leaf shape:             Spatulate Average Length: 14 mm, typical range 8 to 19 mm             Average Width: 8 mm, typical range 5 to 10 mm. Apex:             Mucronate Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Texture of top             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture of bottom surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Appearance: Glossy upper surface. Lower             surface mostly matte. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near             RHS Greyed-Purple 183A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 183D. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple N187B Venation: Pattern: Pinnate, irregular.             Color upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Color under             side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B Petiole: Average Length: 1             mm Diameter: 1 mm Petiole color upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 187A Petiole color lower side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 187A Petiole Texture upper side: Smooth             Petiole Texture lower side: Smooth Foliage durability:             Foliage very durable to stress.Spines: Form: Attached to             plant nodes, occurring 1 to 3 per node. Size: Average 6 mm             long, typical range 3 to 8 mm. Less than 1 mm wide. Color:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Umbellate fascicles. Axial,             occurring on underside of branches.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—2 weeks.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3 to 8.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—500 to 1000.         -   Individual flowers.—Flower shape: Star shaped Flower aspect:             Outwardly drooping Flowering arrangement: Terminal Size:             Diameter: Approximately 5 mm Depth: Approximately 9 mm             Flower Other Characteristics: Persistence: Self cleaning.             Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Shape: Rounded, globose Length: 3 to 4 mm Diameter: 3             to 4 mm Color: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A.         -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Whorl Number of petals per flower:             5-6 Petal Shape: Elliptic Petal Base: Obtuse Margin: Entire             Tip shape: Obtuse Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Texture: Upper:             Smooth Lower: Smooth.         -   Petal color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow             12C flushed Red 46A Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 12C Fully             opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 12A Lower surface:             Near RHS Yellow 12C.         -   Sepal.—Arrangement: Whorl Appearance: Smooth Number: 6             Shape: Roughly orbicular. Tip: Acute to obtuse Base: Acute             to obtuse Margin: Entire Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Texture,             Upper: Smooth Texture, Lower: Smooth Color: Upper surface at             maturity: Near RHS Yellow-green 145B Under surface at             maturity: Near RHS Yellow-green 145B.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 6 mm Diameter: Less than 1 mm Color: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 146B Orientation: Upright/outward Strength:             Good Texture: Smooth/glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 6 Filament length: about 1 mm Filament             color: Near RHS green 137B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular Length: About 1 mm Color: Near RHS             Yellow 12A Pollen color: Near RHS Yellow 12A Pollen amount:             Moderate.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower Length: about 3 mm Style:             Length: About 3 mm Color: Near RHS Red 46A Stigma: Color:             Near RHS Yellow 2A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to produce seed.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Berberis have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between −31° C. to 38 ° C.         -   Environmental stressors.—Good resistance to wind and rain. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Berberis plant named ‘NCBX1’ as herein illustrated and described. 